Zomir Hussain, a father of six, weeping in the aftermath of the fire on 5 March 2023 that destroyed some 2800 shelters, affecting more than 15,000 Rohingya refugees. Zomir lost his shelter and all of his family’s possessions, including food rations and clothes belonging to his children and wife.
“I was at a local bazaar when the fire was started in my camp on 5 March,” Zomir Hussain said. “I didn't know that a fire had started in my camp. When I heard that the fire broke out, I immediately came back and saw my shelter was totally destroyed and there was nothing left. Then, I was so distressed and I started looking for my children and family members. I found them after some hours. They all are safe. Now I have nothing to eat and wear. I need to rebuild my life from scratch.”
The devastating fire that swept through the Rohingya refugee camps at Cox's Bazar is a stark reminder of the intersectional challenges facing this vulnerable population. The Rohingya people have long faced persecution and discrimination in their home country of Myanmar, forcing them to flee to Bangladesh as refugees. But once in Bangladesh, they face a range of other challenges, including poverty, limited access to healthcare and education, and the ongoing impacts of climate change.
The fire in March 2023 highlights the intersectional nature of these challenges. The overcrowded and squalid conditions in the refugee camps made them particularly vulnerable to fires, which are becoming more frequent and intense due to the impacts of climate change. The fire also destroyed vital facilities for water, health, and education, exacerbating existing challenges in these areas.
Moreover, the fire disproportionately affected women, children, and other marginalized groups within the refugee population. Women, for example, often bear the primary responsibility for caring for children and ensuring access to food and other basic necessities. The loss of food rations and other possessions therefore disproportionately impacts women and their families. Children, too, are especially vulnerable in such crises, and many have been left traumatized by the experience.